Vintage British stamps showcase wildlife. The hedgehog stamp is from c. 1977 while the birds, called yellow wagtails, adorn a stamp from c. 1979. (Photos: Andy Lidstone/Shutterstock and YANGCHAO/Shutterstock)

Vintage nature stamps from around the world

With hundreds of millions of enthusiasts around the world, stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies out there. The study of stamps, known as "philately," has been around since stamps were first invented in the mid-1800s. Over 20 million people in the United States and more than 200 million worldwide build collections based on all sorts of themes – history,
geography, ships and more. Some folks even collect "stamps on stamps" (mind-blowing, right?).

We've curated a virtual collection of our own, featuring vintage stamps from around the world depicting beautiful natural scenes, from butterflies to waterfalls:

United Kingdom

Stamps from the United Kingdom show a primrose plant (c. 1979) and an otter (c. 1977). (Photos: YANGCHAO/Shutterstock and Andy Lidstone/Shutterstock)

Brazil

United States

The United States has a broad collection of nature and wildlife stamps, featuring: Columbia jays (c. 1967), a Northern cardinal (c. 1972), a wild turkey (c. 1956), and even a special National Parks Centennial illustration from c. 1972. (Photos: YANGCHAO/Shutterstock, Boris15/Shutterstock, and chrisdorney/Shutterstock)

“As stamps are miniature works of art, it's nearly impossible to collect them without gaining a large amount of knowledge," the American Philatelic Society points out.

Probably one of the easiest hobbies to start, all that's really required is a stamp (usually peeled off of a used envelope after soaking) and a place to store the stamps. Of course, many philatelists have quite the impressive arsenal of tools, from stamp tongs to magnifying glasses to watermark fluid to special gauges that measure the perforation around each stamp. It may seem extreme, but stamp collecting can be an extremely profitable undertaking – some of the world's rarest stamps are worth more than $2 million!

But their value goes far beyond monetary worth. "They tell stories of heroism, daring exploration and important scientific advancement," the website Learn About Stamps describes. "Stamps are miniature ambassadors that travel the world. A stamp from a distant land is a connection to its people and the way they live."

So, the next time you get a card in the mail that makes you smile, think twice before throwing out the envelope.